Dialogue with Al-Muwahidun Community in Daliyat Al-Karmel, Haifa

I had the opportunity of spending half a day with the Muwaḥḥidūn community in Daliyat al-Karmel, situated on Mount Carmel in Haifa. While they are commonly known as Druze, I learned that this term may not be preferred due to historical negative connotations.

The Muwaḥḥidūn, who are Arab and Arabic-speaking, form an ethno-religious community within Islam. While residing in Israel as citizens, they maintain a distinct identity. They also have a presence in other parts of the Middle East, often in small, mountainous communities.

During my time with them, I delved into their history, faith, philosophy, culture, traditions, nationality, and politics. I also shared about my identity as a Tamil Muslim.

Their belief in principles such as Tawhid (monotheism), pluralism, and diversity resonated with me and sparked profound reflections on religiosity.

The Muwaḥḥidūn’s belief in the symbiotic relationship between faith and knowledge resonated deeply with me. It reminded me of the wisdom in the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who emphasized the obligation of seeking knowledge for every Muslim.

Indeed, the pursuit of knowledge is a form of worship, an ibadah, that I feel compelled to nurture within myself. Yet, I recognize the hurdles of patience and open-mindedness that accompany this journey. It requires the ability to absorb vast amounts of information without succumbing to biases, prejudices, or ignorance—a daunting task for us humans.

However, I find solace in the understanding that as humans, we inherently have limitations in our pursuit of knowledge. It is a humbling reminder of our place in the vastness of existence. With this awareness,

I pray for Allah’s guidance to lead me towards the knowledge that is most beneficial and enlightening for me.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Ihab, Lotfee, Leen, Karin, Dr. Akram Hasson, Mr. Carmel’s family, and friends for their warm hospitality and arrangements for me.

I gifted to Dr Hasson the Singapore Tamil Muslims book written by Raja Mohamed

and Mr Mashuthoo, receiving his book on the Druze, as we learned, had a dialogue and reflected about our ethnic and religious identities and more.

Nazhath Faheema

Nazhath Faheema, a Singaporean Muslim of Indian descent, actively promotes interfaith dialogue. She holds a full-time position at an NGO where she focuses on organizing interfaith charity events. Additionally, she plays an active role in community development, particularly in developing youth leadership to foster social harmony.

Furthermore, Nazhath serves as an external lecturer at ESSEC Asia Pacific in Singapore. She teaches students from Europe and Asia regions on "Race & Religion in Singapore" and "Islam in Singapore."

Nazhath earned her Master of Science in Asian Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She also holds a certificate in the Comparative Study of Religions in Plural Societies. Her research interests span various areas, including youth interfaith movements in Southeast Asia, Jewish-Muslim relations, interactions between Muslim-majority states and Israel, and interreligious dialogue in diplomacy.

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